minor



Feb. 14, 1956 W B. s. MINOR 2,734,718

SIDE-OPENING TRAVELING BLOCK AND CROWN BLOCK ARRANGEMENT Filed May 26,1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l /NVNTOR. BURT 5. MINOR @glg BY HIS HTTORNEYS.

HHRE/LK/ECH, FOSTER & HHRR/S Feb. 14, 1956 B. S. MINOR SIDE-OPENINGTRAVELING BLOCK AND CROWN BLOCK ARRANGEMENT Filed May 26, 1952 Fig. 5.

0 F G C I, l'l 1 L4 Aim 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4.

(9C0 EFG IA'III.

INVENTOR. BURT 5. MINOR BY HIS HTTORNEYG.

Feb. 14, 1956 B. s. MINOR 2,734,713

SIDE-OPENING TRAVELING BLOCK AND CROWN BLOCK ARRANGEMENT Filed May 26,1952 3 Sheets-Sheet (5 To Draw Works To Dead Line Hncho /NVE NTO/?. BURT5. MINOR BY HIS HTTORNEYS. HARRIS, K/ECH, FOSTER & HHRR/S United StatesPatent C,

SIDE-OPENING TRAVELING BLOCK AND (IROWN ELQCK ARRANGEMENT Burt S. Minor,Whittier, Califi, assignor to Regan Forge & Engineering Co., San Pedro,Caiif., a corporation of California Application May 26, 1952, Serial No.ZMLQZZ 13 (Ilairns. (Cl. Mi t-1%) This invention relates to apparatusand procedures for running drill pipe and flow tubing into and out ofdeep wells being drilled or being produced.

in connection with running in and pulling out drill pipe and flow pipe,pipe sections being handled in the derrick have to be moved quicklybetween one side of the derrick, where they are stacked, and the centerof the well hole, and this movement should be in unison with themovement of the traveling block in order not to interfere with theoperations of the latter. Such work requires perfect timing on the partof the crew and a large degree of exertion, and in addition it is quitehazardous.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus and procedures whichwill result in the reduction of the work required, the skill to beemployed and the hazards involved in the manipulation of the travelingblock and pipe sections employed.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the size of some of theequipment from that conventionally employed and to eliminate some of theparts. It is also a general object of the invention to simplifyequipment employed for handling drill pipe or flow pipe in a derrick andto simplify the handling procedures, such as eliminating the accuratetiming difiiculties conventionally required in the use of the travelingblock.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a traveling blockstructure which is open at one side so that pipe may be moved laterallyinto a position over the center of the well hole by a simple motion ofthe crewman and without the necessity for disposing the traveling blockinitially at any particular point along the length of the pipe or forwaiting until the traveling block clears the top of the stand of pipe.Another object is to mount on the traveling block, preferably at itslower end, a pipe hanger or elevator having a cooperating locking jawwhich is opened to admit the pipe and which is closed to retain the pipecollar on a suspension seat of the elevator.

By the indicated structure, it is possible to eliminate in the travelingblock combination the long extensions to the elevators which arecommonly used and the swivel hook commonly used. Since each of these hasa length of approximately eight feet, such elimination results in anover-ail length reduction of the traveling block combination of aroundfifteen feet, and consequently a corresponding reduction in the heightof the derrick is possible. At the same time commensurate reduction inthe length of the wire line employed is possible.

It is also an object of this invention to arrange the sheaves of thetraveling block hereof and the sheaves of the crown block typically usedin the top of the derrick for optimum reeving of the wire suspensionline or cable, so that the traveling block is balanced to reduce itstipping, when being raised or lowered, due to the difference in tensionbetween the tight and loose ends of the line, that is between the end ofthe line running to the draw works and the end of the line, known as thedead line, connected to an anchor. I have discovered that, by

2,734,718 Fatented Feb. 14, 1956 employing sheaves which are equal indiameter in both the traveling block and the crown block, minimum linewear is efiected, and, when this is accomplished by means of across-over system of reeving to balance the traveling block, optimumoperating conditions are attained.

In connection with the present side-opening traveling block,construction of the block is facilitated if the two sets of travelingblock sheaves at opposite sides of the middle are disposed at an angleto each other. To accomplish optimum reeving with this form of travelingblock, a similar angular disposition of two sets of intermediate sheavesin the crown block also is employed.

It is therefore a further object of this invention, not only to employsheaves of equal diameters in the traveling block and the crown block,but also to arrange groups of sheaves in the two blocks to correspond inangular position whereby to insure optimum reeving conditions.

A further object is to provide for disposition of the sheaves of thecrown block so that their outermost points from which the wire line issuspended directly overlie, as far as possible, the outermost points ofcontact of the wire line with the respective traveling block sheaves,whereby to maintain the various runs of the wire line vertical and toreduce wear on the line as it engages and passes over the varioussheaves.

Another object is to employ in conjunction with the side-openingtraveling block an auxiliary hoisting device or grip to engage withinthe upper end of the section of pipe, such as a stab to be receivedwithin the collar at the upper end of the pipe, this auxiliary devicebeing operable by the usual cat line and being movable independentlyduring the intervals when the traveling block is being operated. Theemployment of such auxiliary hoisting means thus provides for conductingtwo operations at the same time, namely, those of positioning orremoving the stand of pipe and of moving the traveling block within thevertical space occupied by the stand of pipe. It is therefore a furtherobject of this invention to reduce the over-all time required heretoforeby conducting simultaneously the different indicated operations.

Other objects and the various featuresof the invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art upon reference to the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings wherein certain embodimentsare illustrated.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation of a conventional derrick, portion being brokenaway, and showing the various parts of this invention in one operativerelationship;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale which is taken onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 3 to show the plan of elevator carried at the lowerend of the traveling block;

Fig. 3 is a face elevation of a side-opening traveling block of thisinvention in operative disposition below the crown block hereof;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the crown block of Fig. 3 and shows therelationship of the crown block sheaves;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the traveling block as viewed from theline 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a stab operatively disposed insupporting relationship within the upper end of a length of drill pipe;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic showing of the reeving system to indicate thesequence of the various crown block and traveling block sheaves overwhich the crown block passes; and

Fig. 9 shows a slight modification of the mounting and arrangement ofthe crown block sheaves.

Fig. 1 illustrates the usual steel derrick 10 which is shown as beingsupported upon concrete piers 12 or other 3. appropriate base, thederrick having on. its top the usual crown platform 13 on which ismounted the water table framework carrying the crown block of thepresent invention, as indicated at 14, equipped with a plurality ofsheaves respectively designated A, 'B, C, D, E, P and G from which thereis suspended the side-opening traveling block 15 of this invention, suchsuspension being through the medium of a conventional wire line 16extending downward through the derrick to the drum 18 of the usual drawworks. 'Also shown suspended in the derrick 10 in Fig. l is a hoistinggrip or stab 20 adapted to enter the collar 21 at the upper end of anylength or stand of drill pipe 22 which has at its lower end a coupling2.3 adapted to be threadedly engaged with the collar 22 of the stand ofpipe 22 next below. The stab 20 is shown as being suspended by a catline24 running over a sup porting pulley 25 and extending down to theusual cat head 26. A guide line 27 having one end attached to thederrickmay be provided to control the stab 21 By thisjg'rip or stabarrangement a length of pipe 22 may be handled through. the medium ofthe stab 2i} and the cat line 24 during intervals when the travelingblock is being hoisted during the running-in of pipe and being loweredwhen pulling out pipe, as more fully to be explained hereinafter.

Having reference to Figs. 3 and 5, the side-opening or gap-typetraveling block 15 of this invention includes a cast casing 30 which isin the form of two diverging housing members 31 integrally connected bya back wall ,32 and by an integral, vertical, partially cylindrical,central wall 33 which constitutes a vertical bearing face for a lengthof tubing. Each housing member 31, in the form shown, contains a groupof sheaves mounted upon appropriate transverse'shaft means 34. As seenfrom left to right in. Fig. 5, thesesheaves are respectively designatedI, II, III, IV, V and VI. The housing members 31, being flared forward,as indicated, and therefore converging rearward, dispose the two groupsof sheaves at a corresponding angle to each other, as a consequence ofwhich the casing 30 has a generally U-shap'ed' cross section and has alaterally directed side opening or gap 35. The angleof this gap isrelatively small',;and in any event is that which provides for aconvenient shape of the casing 30 and provides a convenient flare'forreception of a length of drill pipe 22 in some such relationship asshown in Figs. 3 and 5. This angle maybe inthe order of 10" to 20, forexample.

Located at'the lower end of the casing 30, is a horizontal, curved,pipe-supporting elevator or landing member 40,:whos'e ends are supportedon cross pins 41 carried in the lower ends of hangers 42 which arehinged by ears and through-pins 42a on the lower ends of thehousingmembers 31 of the casing 30. Centrally of the landing member andbetween the suspending members 42,'there is disposed a horizontal seat43 which may be approximately circular in extent, this seat 43 beingadapted to provide a bearing surface for the overhanging portion of thecollar 21 of a length of pipe 22. For the purpose of retaining pipe 22and its collar 21 in position upon the seat 43 to raise and lower thepipe, a curved locking jaw 44 is employed. This jaw 44 is pivoted to thelanding member 40 by a vertical pin 45 and is provided with latch means:46 tocooperate with correspending latch means on the landing member 40for retaining the parts in operative relationship during raising andlowering of stands of pipe or a pipe string in'the well. The axis of.the landing member 40 and its seat 43 corresponds with the axis of thecurved central wall 33 of the traveling block casing 30 which should bethe vertical axis of the traveling block itself. A handle 47 isconveniently provided upon thev forward wall of the jaw 44 for purposesof manipulation, suc h jaw beingrelativelyheavy in a tool of this typewhich must carry loads of a great many tons. If desired, the hangers 42,might, be integral with the casing 30, as might the landing member 40.The

size of the. apparatusmaybe appreciated-whenit is considered that eachof the traveling block and crown block sheaves may have a diameter inthe order of five or six feet, varying with the service to be performed.

As seen from the side elevation of Fig. 6, the traveling block 15 tapersboth upward and downward, and the upper sloping face at the front andback of both of the housing members 31 is apertured as indicated at 43(Fig. 3) to provide for the passage of various runs of the wire line 16extending vertically to and from the traveling block sheaves I, II, III,IV V and VI. As previously in dicated, the traveling block 15 inoperation is disposed beneath the crown block 14, the sheaves of thetraveling block and the crown block all being of the same diameter andpositioned so that the runs of the wire line 16 between the sheaves ofthe respective blocks are disposed in almost exactly vertical positionwhereby to reduce wear on the line. This relationship of the sheaves ofthe two blocks is effected through the medium of the novel sheavearrangement in the traveling block 15, as above described, and a novelsheave arrangement in the crown block 14. In the latter arrangement, theaxes of all of the sheaves A, B, C, D, E, F and G are horizontal and aredisposed in the same horizontal plane. Since it is desirable to use across-over system of reeving the wire line 16 to balance the pull at theopposite sides of the traveling block 15, the two sheaves A and B, whichconstitute a spaced pair, are mounted at opposite sides of a supportingframework 50 of the crown block 14, and the remaining crown blocksheaves C, D, E, F, and G are disposed in a transverse direction andbetween the spaced sheaves A and B. The right edge of the sheave A, asseen in Fig. 4, is substantially in line, when the two blocks are inoperative position, with the rear edge of the traveling block, so that,as the wire line 16 passes over the sheave A and downward to the sheaveVI, it is for all practical purposes perpendicular. The line 16 thenpasses under the sheave VI and upward to the right side of the crownblock sheave B, passing thence thereover and then downward to theforward side of the sheave I of the traveling block.

It will be noted that, in the arrangement of the sheaves as seen inFigs. 4 and 5, the cross-over sheave A is located a little to the leftin the framework 50, and the return cross-over sheave B is located alittle to the right. In view of the angular disposition of the set ofsheaves I, II, and III and the set of sheaves IV, V, and VI in thetraveling block, and the comparable angularities of the sheaves C, D, E,F and G, when the line 16 extends upward from the forward side of thesheave VI to the right side of the return cross-over sheave B, itsposition is substantially vertical because of the substantial alignmentof the foremost part of the sheave VI with the edge of the returncross-over sheave B farthest to the right. Similarly, as the line 16extends downward from the left side of the return cross-over sheave B,it extends substantially perpendicularly downward to the forward. edgeof the sheave I because of the fact that the left edge of the sheave Bsubstantially overlies the forward edge of the sheave I. The fourportions of the line 16 fairleading to the two sheaves I and VI of thetraveling block constitute the most important loops that control thetiltingof the traveling block as the same are farthest from the verticalcenter line and hence constitute the greatest moment. The portion of theline 16 supporting the sheaves I and VI is closest to the draw works 18,resulting in a more equal pull. After the line 16 passes under thesheave I, it starts upward from the rear edge thereof to the rear edgeof the crown block sheave C, the position of this run also beingsubstantially vertical. because the rearmost edges of these two sheavesare substantially in vertical alignment. The line 16, after reaching thesheave C, passes thereover and extends downward to the forwardedgeofthecrown block sheave 2, the forward edges of these two sheaves C andII being in substantial vertical alignment. The rest of the reeving ofthe line 16 is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8. All of the runs ofthe line 16, as it passes successively from one sheave to another asindicated, are substantially vertical, the greatest probable discrepancyexisting in the runs of the line from the crown block sheave E, whichneed not be perfect because the closer the sheaves are to the verticalcenter the less the tilting movement. The dead end of the line 16 isanchored at some suitable position on the derrick after leaving the topof the crown block sheave G.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that, by having all of thesheaves of the two blocks of the same diameter, and offsetting thecross-over sheave A and the return cross-over sheave B respectivelysomewhat to the left and somewhat to the right as shown in Fig. 4, andby causing the live end of the line 16 to extend over the cross-oversheave A and down to the sheave VI at the right side of the travelingblock 15, and after rising to the return cross-over sheave B and passingthereover and thence down and under the traveling block sheave I at theleft of the traveling block, whence the line rises again to the crownblock, the pull from the draw works is balanced as between the right andleft sides of the traveling block 15. In addition, the describedperpendicular positions of the various runs of the line 16 reduce linewear to the absolute minimum possible.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the various crown block sheaves are mounted onappropriate shafts, the sheaves A and B being carried upon short shafts52, and the two groups of sheaves C, D and E, F, G-being carried uponshafts 54 and 55 respectively which are generally transverselypositioned with respect to the shafts 52. These shafts are variouslymounted in plate members constituting portions of the framework, namelyplate members 56 carrying and parallel to the shafts 52, transverselyand angularly disposed plate members 57 disposed at the sides of andparallel to the sheaves C and D and carrying the shaft 54, and platemembers 58 at the sides of and parallel to the sheaves E, F and G andcarrying the shaft 55. Also, as seen in Fig. 4, the far edges of thesheaves C, D, E, F and G are all quidistantly spaced, the near edgesbeing spaced in two groups, namely, the near edges of sheaves C and Dand the near edges of sheaves E, F and G, the one group as a wholediverging from the other group as a whole. This arrangement provides forfairleading of the runs of the line 16 between the crown block and thetraveling block. The edge of the sheave G indicated as G leads to theanchor and therefore does not have to fairlead to any sheave groove ofthe traveling block.

In Fig. 9, a slight modification of the sheave arrange ment of the crownis shown, the sheaves C and D and their supporting plates 57 beingparallel to the adjacent end of the frame, and the other sheaves E, Fand G and their supporting plate 58 being at a greater angle to the endsof the frame. The traveling block will then hang at a slight angle fromthe relative position of Fig. 5.

As previously explained, in order to free the traveling block foroperation during short intervals when disconnected stands of pipe 22 areto be handled, the mentioned grip or stab and cat line 24 are employedto move such stands 22 are required. The construction of this grip orstab 20 is illustrated in Fig. 7. It comprises an elongated generallycylindrical body member 60, adapted to be inserted into any collar 21 atthe upper end of any length of drill pipe 22. The stab also includes avertically movable gripping finger 62 provided on its outer face with aplurality of gripping teeth 64. The finger 62 is bevelled to slide upona corresponding bevelled face 65, on the respective side of the bodymember 60. On the inner bevelled face of the finger 62 there isintegrally provided an inwardly extending lug 66 which works in an axialbore receiving a coiled rear spring 68. The spring 68 acts to disengagethe finger from the interior of the collar 21 or the pipe 22. However,so long as the weight of the pipe 22 is exerted upon the retention teeth64 of the finger 62, the weight of the pipe being carried by the catline 24 through the body member 60, the stab 20 is retainedautomatically in operative position. When the section of pipe 22 isrested on the derrick fioor or is rested with its bottom coupling 23 inengagement with an underlying collar 21, and draft on the cat line 24 isreleased, disengagement of the stab 20 may be effected by jerking thecontrol line or guide line 27, which jerk is transmitted to the bodymember 60 through an overhanging laterally projecting arm 70. A similararm 72 is provided on the top of the finger 62, and this arm is used toengage the teeth 64 with the collar 21 or pipe 22 when preparing to lifta stand of pipe 22. It is usually within reach of the operator if thestands of pipe are selected to be of approximately equal length;otherwise, resort to a jerk line will be required.

By the means described, when pulling pipe out of the hole for example,after a stand of pipe has been Withdrawn from the hole and the pipestring landed upon conventional slips of the rotary table, the stab 20is introduced into the upper end of the exposed stand of pipepreparatory to moving the stand as soon as it has been disconnected fromthe string of pipe hanging in the hole from the slips. During theinterval of time while the thread is being disconnected, plus the timealso consumed at present for setting the stand of pipe back in thederrick, the elevator can be released and the traveling block be loweredto the floor. Thus, the traveling block 15 and its elevator 49, 44 arefree for engagement with the upper end of the suspended string wherebyto lift the latter as soon as the disconnected stand has been moved overby the stab and cat line to stack the same in the derrick. Indisconnecting the traveling block of this invention from the pipe 22, itis necessary merely to open the locking jaw 44 and swing the travelingblock 15 laterally slightly away from the pipe. Similarly the travelingblock 15 may be engaged with a length of pipe at any location merely byswinging the block, with the locking jaw 44 open, laterally intoposition to engage the central curved wall 33 with the adjacent side ofthe pipe. After the locking jaw has been closed, elevation of thetraveling block 15 brings the elevator seat 43 up into engagement withthe pipe collar 21 so that the engaged pipe, whether it be adisconnected stand or the pipe string hanging in the hole, may beremoved as required.

When running pipe into the hole, the next stand of pipe suspended fromthe stab 20 can be positioned over the center of the hole as soon as thelast run-in stand is landed, and during the interval of time required tomake up the connecting joint thread the traveling block can be elevated.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this artthat, with the traveling block 15 hanging below the crown block by meansof the various runs of the wire line 16, all of these runs will bealmost exactly perpendicular, especially in view of the arrangement ofthe various sheaves described. Also, in view of the fact that allsheaves are of the same diameter, it will also be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that with this arrangement the wear of the wire line16 on the sheaves is reduced to an absolute minimum. It is furtherevident that the traveling block may be connected to a length of pipe ordisconnected therefrom by engagement or disengagement of the elevatormember 40 and its locking jaw 44, and that, by reason of theside-opening gap 35, this may be done with a minimum of effort, hazardand manipulative skill. This is a great asset in drilling practicesbecause it renders it less essential that the crewmen be highly skilledin drilling-rig technique of performing dangerous operations on the flyand including the manipulation of the traveling block. A further veryimportant advantage of this improvement is due to the ever increasingdepth of drilling and the increased weight of pipe to be handled,because of which hoisting equipment must be made more massive, theheaviestof such today being well beyond the strength of the crewmembers.

Since in a conventional. drilling rig crew, or other deep well crew,there are always as many members required to handle the conventionaltraveling block as are required to handle both the present travelingblock and the present grip or stab 20, it is apparent that, with thesame crew, operations with the stab and with the traveling block maytake place simultaneously, thereby greatly speeding up the handling ofdrill pipeor other pipe, either in a drilling. well or in aproducingwell, without increasing the number in the crew.

I claim as my invention:

1. A travelingblock and crown block combination including: a, travelingblock havingtwo vertical casing sections vertically connected at oneside and providing between thern at the other side a vertical, laterallydirected opening extending substantially the height of the block andopening out to the sidethereof and adapted to receive pipeby-sidewisemovement; elevator means secured to the under side of said travelingblock in alignment with said opening to engage and support pipe;vertical sheaves mounted in both of said casing sections on horizontalaxes; a crown block to be disposed above said traveling block and havingtwo sets of vertical sheaves disposed on horizontal, axes all in thesame horizontalplane, most sheaves of one set of crown block sheavesbeing respectively disposed in substantially the same vertical planes asthe sheaves of the traveling block, the sheaves of the other set ofcrown block sheaves including a spaced pair disposed transversely tosaid one set and on opposite sides thereof, all ofthe sheaves of the twoblocks having the same diameter; and a line running over-the sheaves ofthe two blocks for supporting and operating the traveling block from thecrown block in balanced relation.

2. A combination as in claim 1 including grip and cable meansfor'supporting and handling pipe while said travelingblock is operated.

3. A traveling block structure including: two normally vertical housingmembers joined vertically atone side of the block and spacedverticallyat the opposite side to produce a vertical, laterally-opening gap forreception of pipe; elevator means secured. at the under side of saidhousing members in alignment with said gap and adapted to engage andsupport pipe from its upper end, said gap being adapted forvertical'sliding movement of said pipe therethrough and being alsoadapted for relative lateral movement of said pipe bodily to and fromsaid gap; and vertical sheaves arrangedin two spaced sets in saidhousing members to receive spaced runs of a cable in balanced relationon opposite sides of said gap.

4. A structure as in claim 3 wherein each housing member and its set ofsheaves is disposed at an angle to the'other housing member and itssheaves whereby the walls. of said gap flare outward to facilitatereceptionof a pipe.

5. A structure as in claim 3 including a vertical bearing wall at theback of said gap to engage said pipe, said elevatormea-ns having ahorizontal seat centered with respect to. the axis of said bearingwallto support said pipe, said elevator means having a closing jaw toretain supported pipe on said seat.

6. A traveling block including: two vertical housing members; verticalsheaves journalled in each housing member, said members being disposedat an angle to each other to provide a flaring, laterally-openingvertical gap to receive pipe moved laterally thereinto from the outsideof the block; wall means joining said members at the side opposite saidgap; an approximately central, vertical, e

curved wall means connecting intermediate portions of said verticalhousing members and providing a bearing wall for a vertical pipedisposed in said vertical gap and along which wall said pipe may slide;supporting means fixed to thelower portions of said housing members andhaving a horizontal pipe seat. whose; axis, is..- substantially, alignedwiththeiaxis of saidcurvedwallmeanst 7. A traveling blockjncluding: acasing havingyertical. housing members joined vertically atone sideof-thecasing and separatcd at the oppositeside for. providing avertical, laterally openinggap into which vertically disposed pipe maybe passed laterally at any placealong the lengthof the pipe; groupsof'sheaves positioned in said housing members andspaced by reason ofsaid gap betwee said members; and a..pipe hanger carried by said casing,atone endandhavinga supporting seat open at one side toreccivesaidPiPeupon said lateral passage.

8. A blockasjnclainl] wherein said casinghas an axis extendingvertically throughtheinner portion of said gap and substantiallycoincidentally withv theaxis of pipe in said gap, said seat having anaxis substantially coincident with theiaxes of saidcasing and said pipe.

9. in combination: acrown block having, a pair of spaced parallelvertical cross-over sheaves andaplurality of vertical sheaves arrangedatangles to one another and disposed transversely betweeusaid, parallelsheaves; a traveling block. disposed. directly below. said crown ,blockand having-a plurality of vertical sheaves disposed transversely tosaidparallel sheaves, of said crown block and arranged inpluraldiverging groups providing a laterally directed'sidc opening betweenthem at one, side of the traveling blockcto receive apipe introducedfrom therespective side, all of said sheavesrbeing of the same size;anda cable extending-over the sheaves. of the two blocks and supportingthe traveling block from the crown block, saidequal sheave sizes. andangularity of said sheaves of the two blocks resulting in substantiallyvertical disposi tion of. all runsof the cable between said sheaves ofthe two blocks.

10. A combination as. inclaim 9 wherein said cable passes over one of.saidparallel cross-over sheaves to one sideofthecrown.block,,thencedownwardto. and under the-travelingblock sheave at the correspondingside of the traveling block, thence. upward to and over the othercross-over sheave to the other side of the crown block, thencedownwardto and under the traveling block sheave at the other side of thetraveling block, thence upward to an overlyingtransversecrown blocksheave, thence down- Ward to andunder an intermediate traveling blocksheave, and thence successively upward and over and downward and underthe remaining crown block and traveling block sheaves.

ll. In combination: acrown block havinga pair of spaced parallelvertical crossover, sheaves and a plurality of vertical sheaves disposedtransversely between said parallel sheavesand arranged in twogroups atan acute angle to one another; a traveling block disposed directly belowsaid crown blockand havinga plurality of.vert-ical sheaves disposedtransversely to said parallel sheaves of said crown block andarranged intwo groups at an, acute angle to one another corresponding generallywith the acute angle of-said two groups of sheaves-of the crown block,said traveling block having two vertically extending housing portionsjoined verticallyat one side and carrying respectively the two groupsofangularly disposed sheaves, saidtwo housing portions being arranged onsubstantially the same angle as the acute angle between the respectivesheave groups, there being avertically extending passage between saidtwo housing portions atthediverging side of said angle and extendingfromtop to bottom of said traveling block and opening laterally from thetraveling block from top to bottom whereby a vertically extending lengthof pipe may be moved laterally from outside the traveling block intosaid passage to be supported by said traveling block; elevator meanscarried by said traveling block adjacentits vertical axis andinalignment withaninnervertically extending portion of said passage; anda cable extending Over theshcaves of the two blocks and supporting thetraveling blocl: from the crown block,

the runs of said cable between the corresponding sheaves of the twoblocks extending substantially vertically by References Cited in thefile of this patent reason of the angular relationships between thevarious UNITED STATFS PATENTS groups of sheaves.

12. A combination as in claim 11 wherein all of said 1,767,325 Taylor J24, 1930 sheaves are of substantially the same size whereby said 5 1 910173 Lain et a1 May 23 1933 runs of said cable extend substantiallyparallel to one 1928958 Young et aL Oct 1933 amther- 2,065,781 WilsonDec. 29, 1936 13. A combination as 1n claim 11 wherein the axes of 2 259253 Kozlovskis Oct 14 1941 all the crown block sheaves are all in thesame horizontal 2,341,225 Macclatchie Feb. 8, 1944 plane, and the axesof all the traveling block sheaves are 10 in the same horizontal laneJohns

